Hazara University funds | IUB VC

Mansehra, Oct 15: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has released Rs40 million for 50 per cent ad hoc
enhancement in salaries and a reconstruction project of the Hazara
University.

An HU press release read Thursday the amount was released
after Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr Sakhawat Hussain Shah met
Chairman of HEC Dr Javed Laghari at his office and apprised him of the
problems faced by the faculty and students due to suspension of work on
October 8, 2005 earthquake-affected buildings.

The other projects of
education and research also came under discussion and the chairman
pledged that he would endeavour to address the basic problems being
faced by the HU. Laghari said that the HEC would take prompt action to
avert the suspension of the work on the ongoing reconstruction schemes
at the university. The HEC also released an amount of Rs15 million for
the payment of 50 per cent ad hoc relief in the salaries of the
university employees. The news

Alleged embezzlement at IUB: VC faces official wrath for no action against predecessor
Lahore: The Punjab higher education department has sought an
explanation from Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) vice-chancellor
(VC) Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar for his failure to take action against his
predecessor despite Punjab government's instructions.

IUB
former vice-chancellor Dr Bilal A Khan was accused of misappropriation
of funds and illegal appointment of retired personnel in the varsity. A
three-member committee made by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had
investigated into the affairs and reported that Dr Khan had embezzled
funds that needed to be audited.

As the Punjab higher education
department could take no action while Dr Khan was a serving
vice-chancellor, the Punjab government replaced Dr Khan with Prof Dr
Muhammad Mukhtar on July 23. Dr Khan's tenure had expired on October 2,
2009, but the chancellor had asked him to continue the work. last.

After getting go-ahead from the law department, the higher education
department asked the VC to get a criminal case lodged against Dr Khan as
there was sufficient evidence that he had committed a cognizable
offence, including criminal breach of trust as the vice-chancellor of
the varsity.

The new VC, however, placed the issue before the
varsity's Syndicate for a unanimous decision on Oct 11. The education
department's top officials, however, believed that there was no need to
go to the Syndicate because all allegations against Dr Khan were proved
by the chief minister's three-member inquiry committee consisting of
Higher Education Secretary Ahad Khan Cheema, Bahawalpur Commissioner
Muhammad Mushtaq and then Chief Minister's Inspection Team chairman
Salahuddin Ahmed Khan Niazi.

After lengthy discussion and in
spite of majority of Syndicate members in favour of registering an FIR
and filing civil suit against the former VC, it is learnt, Prof Mukhtar
withdrew the agenda item for no particular reason.

It is also
learnt that the higher education department's representative on the IUB
Syndicate, the additional secretary (academic) also walked out in
protest.

The higher education department on Thursday issued an
explanation letter asking Prof Mukhtar to tell the reason that why he
withdrew an important agenda item after discussion in the Syndicate
meeting

This reporter tried to contact Prof Mukhtar but he did not respond. Dawn

First school for autistic children
Lahore: Oasis School is, undoubtedly, a new chapter in academic
history of the country as it is the first state-of-the-art training
institution for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).

The
school would be a herald of change, especially for those who have been
neglected over the years in Pakistan due to many reasons - lack of
awareness, diagnoses and support, etc.

Autism is a life-long
developmental disability which was once believed to be a psychiatric
disorder, but it is now proved as a neurological brain disorder.

According
to a report, over 600,000 people in Pakistan are suffering from ASDs
but, unfortunately, little is being done in connection with training of
such children both in public and private sector.

Oasis School, a
project of Sharif Trust, started working in April this year with a motto
'Unlocking the Potential' to train children suffering from Autism, so
that they can lead an independent life and be a part of the society.

It is situated in Sharif Medical City Complex, Raiwind, in a suburb of the south part of the provincial metropolis.

According
to Oasis School CEO Ayesha Haroon, the school is providing high
standard of education along with relevant therapies to enable children
to develop their potential to interact with people and lead their lives
independently.

She also talked about staff training, saying that
the Oasis faculty was given regular training by foreign experts,
especially from the UK, as there was a dearth of experts in this field
in Pakistan.

She added the facility of language and speech therapy was also ensured by engaging foreign qualified specialists.

She
told The News that, at present, the school had a total of eight
students and equal number of teachers to take care of them during their
stay at the school.

About the future plans, Ayesha Haroon said a
purpose-built campus would also be established for the senior students
while vocational training of children diagnosed with Autism would also
be ensured in collaboration with universities and other top
institutions.

'There is no commercial aspect to this project,' she
said, adding that the project was initiated as there was dire need of a
training institution for children diagnosed with Autism in the country.

According
to the schoolís principal, Samrina Anwar, the curriculum of the Oasis
School provides personalized individual education plans based on a full
assessment and review. The news

Students urged to read books on history
Lahore: Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has
called on the newly enrolled students to constantly work hard and
wholeheartedly devote themselves to pursuit of knowledge so as to
achieve distinctive positions in every sphere of life and to earn a
place of honour for their country.

He was addressing the participants
of a grand reception hosted in honour of over 2,000 newly-admitted
students at New Campus here on Thursday. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr
Jamil Anwar Ch, Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Deans of all
faculties, senior teachers and scholars also attended the reception.

Congratulating
the newly admitted students, the VC advised them that apart from
textbooks, they should foster the habit of reading books on history,
culture and literature to widen their mental horizons. He said the
Almighty had blessed Pakistani youth with rich creative and intellectual
faculties, which can be sharpened through sheer dedication and hard
work. "This university students have not only attained top positions in
examinations but have also demonstrated outstanding performance in
debates, poetry, dramatic performances and other extra-curricular
activities" he said and added that most recently Gujranwala Campus MBA
student Muhammad Inam had brought laurels to the nation by winning gold
medal in wrestling at Commonwealth games.

He said Punjab University
had produced leaders of high calibre and stature in politics, literature
and religion. In this connection, he mentioned names of Javed Hashmi,
Jahangir Badar, Tahir-ul-Qadri, Majeed Amjad, Anwar Masood, Amjad Islam
Amjad and the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani who had received
his MA in Journalism from PU.

On the occasion, Advisor Students
Affairs Iftikhar Ahmad Ch said PU students last year bagged 32 trophies
and 146 individual prizes besides winning eight lakhs of cash prizes in
competitions. He gave out details of upcoming leading events, seminars
and numerous co-curricular as well as extra-curricular activities, which
the varsity will be undertaking during the coming year to properly
groom the personalities of the young generation. The nation